Sunday, 29 September 2013

List of museums and historical places in Brunei Darussalam

Brunei Museum

Brunei Museum (Muzium Brunei) - Located on an archeological
site at Kota Batu about 5 km (3.1 mi) from Bandar Seri Begawan, this
museum is the largest in the country. It was first established in 1965
and occupied its present site since 1970. Officially opened in 1972, the
museum focuses on Islamic history, natural history, Brunei artifacts
and customs, ceramics and the oil industry of Brunei. The museum is
reachable by public transport (Bus No. 39). Its exhibition galleries
consist of the following:

Islamic Art Gallery: The gallery displays a magnificent
collection of Islamic art belonging to the sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah and
is the main highlight. The collection comprises a wide range of objects
covering the artistic production of various Islamic regions from the
transitional and early Islamic periods to the 19th century.

The History and Technology of Brunei Darussalam's Petroleum Gallery:
The state's main industry is presented in this gallery, covering
descriptive narratives on the origin and formation of oil, process of
drilling, refining, the history of the petroleum industry in Brunei and a
map depicting current oil fields.

Brunei Traditional Culture Gallery: Brunei's material culture
is presented in this gallery. The objects displayed in the gallery
shows the customs and the culture of the people from the birth till
marriage. There is also a fine collection of brassware, and especially
canons for which the country is traditionally renowned.

Natural History Gallery: The gallery exhibits a wide range of
natural history subjects and especially the fauna of Brunei. Some of
the exhibits are presented in the form of diorama techniques to form a
realistic form of their natural habitat.

Brunei Darussalam Archeology and History Exhibition Gallery: It exhibits the history of the country beginning from the prehistoric period up to independence in 1984.

Malay Technology Museum,Kota Batu,Brunei

Malay Technology Museum - The museum was officially opened in 1988.

The Malay Technology Museum (Muzium Teknologi Melayu) is located at Kota Batu, in the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. It is situated next to the Brunei Museum.
The building was donated by the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of companies,
in conjunction with the Sultanate's independence in 1984. The museum was
officially opened by His Majesty the Sultan on 29 February 1988.
Featuring how things were done in ancient times, there are displays in
boatmaking, fishing, metalworking and goldsmithing.

The museum has 3 exhibition halls:

Water Village Traditional House Gallery: This gallery shows
architectural structure of houses in the water village - Kampong Ayer in
the late 19th up to the mid 20th century.

Water Village Traditional Technology Gallery: This gallery depicts
various types of handicrafts and cottage industries found in the water
village. The display includes boat construction, roof-making, gold
smiting, silver smiting, brass casting and cloth weaving.

Inland Traditional Technology Gallery: This gallery contains
exhibits of indigenous technologies of the in land people. It shows
models of Kedayan, Dusun and Murut houses and a Punan hut. Techniques of
production of Sago, brown sugar and handicrafts are also displayed.

Brunei's Royal Regalia Building ,Bandar Seri Begawan

Front exhibition at Royal Regalia Brunei

The Royal Regalia Building - Located at Jalan Sultan, this
museum is devoted to the sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The main gallery
displays the coronation and Silver Jubilee Chariots, gold and silver
ceremonial armory and traditional jewellery encrusted coronation crowns.
A collection of documents that chronicles the sultan's life up to the
coronation together with the constitutional history gallery is also
housed in the same building.

The Brunei History Center - Located at Jalan Sultan next to
the Royal Regalia building is the Brunei history center. The center was
opened in 1982 with a brief to research the history of Brunei. Much of
that work has been establishing the genealogy and history of the sultans
and royal family. The public display has a wealth of information on
these subjects including replicas and brass rubbings of tombs. A flow
chart giving the entire lineage of the Brunei sultans can be found at
the entrance.

Brunei Stamp Gallery - The recently opened Brunei Stamp Gallery is located inside the post office building in Jalan Sultan.

Bubongan Duabelas,Brunei (source:history-centre.gov.bn)

Bubongan Duabelas - The name which translates to the House of
Twelve Roofs is located in Jalan Residency. It was built in 1906 and
was formerly the official residence of British residents and high
commissioners in Brunei. It is one of the oldest surviving building in
Bandar Seri Begawan. It now serves as a gallery that exhibits the long
standing relationship between the sultanate and the United Kingdom.

The Arts and Handicrafts Center,Brunei (source:wikimapia)

The Arts and Handicrafts Center - Located at Jalan Residency
it was opened in 1980. Brunei's fine arts and crafts date back to
centuries and are part of the nation's proud heritage. The Arts and
Handicrafts Center conducts courses in silverware, brassware,
woodcarving, songkok-making, weaving and basketry.